Ya know, it IS technically possible, right now, to totally replace all coal-fired power plants with other, cleaner technologies, which would make electric cars totally green; no CO2 emissions at all. If the people who actually get to make decisions like that really wanted it to happen, we could completely transform our energy production infrastructure in less than 20 years. All it takes is political will, foresight, a willingness to put up with breeder reactors for a while, and a huge amount of public investment, on the scale of the Manhatten Project, or the war in Iraq. And -here's the tough part- the decency to put a viable future ahead of obscene short-term profits. (No, I'm not a socialist.)

(BTW, my personal dream is a future full of electric light rail, bike/pedestian-dominated traffic, and only enough electric cars & trucks to do what is utterly necessary, like deliver lumber and move around in rural areas, but I'm realistic enough to realize that'll never happen, at least not in North America. I dislike cars, but since we have to have them, bring on the ones that don't broil the planet, and do it quickly, please...)

Oh, one more thing: As a committed lifelong bike person, electric cars worry me. The few electric buses in Seattle scare the crap out of me when they pass, because I can't hear them coming. A future full of electric cars would be a bit unnerving.